Somalia: Six killed in Inter-clan fighting in Mudug region

GALKAYO, Puntland - At least six people were reported to have been killed, and several others wounded
when two rival militias clashed near Galkayo city on Saturday, Garowe Online reports.

The deadly inter-clan fighting broke
out in the morning in a remote village called Godad vicinity, located in the
outskirts of Galkayo, the regional capital of Mudug province , according to the
locals.

Saturday's clash is believed to
flare-up over the killings of 3 civilians, including father and his son who
died in a bus attack in between Godad and Gacmafale areas in eastern Mudug
region last week.

Residents in Galkayo said they heard heavy
exchanges of gunfire between the warring sides shortly before dawn. The combat
has left at least six people dead, while a number of others were injured.

The authorities in the area did comment
on the incident, but, apathetic mediation efforts were reported underway to stop the conflict
between the two clans hailing from Galmudug and Puntland regions.

Reports from the region indicate that
joint forces from the two Federal member states were dispatched to the battle
zones, to intervene in the ongoing clashes and bring an end to the hostilities.

The fight has effected hundreds of
residents in the area, some reportedly fled their houses over fear of the escalating
tension.

This comes as a fragile peace deal was
recently signed between the two neighboring regional administrations, who
agreed to form a joint Police forces tasked with the security of Galkayo.

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The independent news Web site GaroweOnline.com is the online sister publication of Radio Garowe, a community radio station based in Garowe, the State capital of Puntland, a self-governing region in northern Somalia